The Big Story

MOF to conduct “cost-recover” study on SOEs NASSAU, BAHAMAS - Twenty-three state owned enterprises are set to receive $413.8 million in the upcoming fiscal period, according to the 2019/2020 budget introduced in Parliament last Wednesday. The allocation for subventions represents an increase of $15.53 million, over the $398.29 million budgeted for these institutions this period. The bulk of the increase will...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS - The United States is upping the ante this month on the screening of persons travelling to the US for work or to study, by requiring visa applicants to provide their social media account names as well as volunteer the details of their accounts on any sites not listed on the visa application. The State Department regulations said...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS - Two males and two females appeared in the magistrate court on Monday, to answer to a number of financial crime charges. Antonio Coleby, 38, of Seabreeze Lane was charged with six counts of possession of a forged document. According to the prosecutor, Inspector Philip Davis, on May 27th, Coleby was allegedly found in possession of fake visa...

AG says opposition’s failure to support bill “rank hypocrisy” NASSAU, BAHAMAS - Senators debated and passed the National Crime Intelligence Agency (NCIA) Bill, 2019, yesterday. The four opposition senators voted against the legislation. The bill will establish a government agency, referred to as the NCIA, to gather intelligence on individuals and/or entities which pose a potential threat to the national...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS - A multi-million-dollar overhaul at Arawak Cay has raised the standard of public restroom facilities at the popular cultural eatery hub, following years of vandalism that has left the eastern and western restrooms on the cay in a constant state of disrepair, according to Paul Willie, Arawak Cay Manager. Willie confirmed yesterday that the renovation at Arawak Cay...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS - The Rights Bahamas group on Monday revealed that the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has had to reiterate its request for information from the government regarding threats against the safety of human rights defenders in the Bahamas. In a statement released yesterday, Rights Bahamas said the threats in question were reported to the Commission in December...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS - Police in the capital recovered three illegal firearms from the streets of New Providence in two separate incidents on Sunday, June 2, 2019. Three adult males were also taken into custody. In the first incident, according to police reports, shortly after 2:00p.m. on Sunday, Central Detective Unit Officers, acting on information, while on Blueberry Hill Road off...

Announces resignation and date of swearing-in. PLP leader says appointment is a violation of all protocols. NASSAU, BAHAMAS - Cornelius A. Smith, the country's non-resident ambassador to six Central American countries, including Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, announced his resignation over the weekend. He also announced the government’s plan to appoint him at the end of...

Four unionists who died at last year’s tragedy recognized posthumously NASSAU, BAHAMAS - As several unions remain at an impasse while some have recently taken a strike vote, Rev. Terrence G. Morrison, pastor of Zion Baptist Church on East and Shirley Streets, on Sunday blasted unions from the pulpit as many of its leaders and members worshipped at the church...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Beginning today, June 3, Investar Securities Limited will begin offering Bahamians the opportunity to purchase shares in the Titan Balanced Fund and the Titan Fixed Income Fund. Shares can be purchased today at Investar Securites, Cash&Go and Green Leaf Financial Services. The Titan Balanced Fund offers shares at $5.00 dollars with a minimum investment of $500.00 dollars....

Airport will operate on a single runway until work is completed. NASSAU, BAHAMAS - On June 17, 2019, Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) will begin an extensive runway rehabilitation project on Runway 09/27 (soon to be Runway 10/28) and Taxiway India at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA). According to officials, the work will take place over a four to six...

NCTU: Police will be enforcing no vehicle zones NASSAU, BAHAMAS - As last year’s Labour Day parade was marred by tragedy, Minister of Labour Dion Foulkes expressed on Sunday that the safety of participants at this year’s parade, scheduled for Friday, June 7, is the government’s chief priority. “To this end, the government and our ministry are working in conjunction...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS - With increases in the upcoming budget for the Department of Statistics and the Office of the Auditor General, the public can expect more frequent, improved reporting from both departments as well as greater resources and modern tools to facilitate more “accurate and fair” reports. In the upcoming budget, the Department of Statistics will receive $5.24 million —...

NAD to embark on “substantial” capital improvement project NASSAU, BAHAMAS - Following safety recommendations from the Air Accident Investigation Department (AAID) to address “numerous potholes” at the General Aviation Center of Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) that posed a potential threat to aircraft, Minister of Tourism Dionisio D’Aguilar said the Nassau Airport Development (NAD) Company is set to undertake a...

NASSAU, BAHAMAS - Judge Patricia Seitz, the judge presiding over the most recent environmental pollution case against the Carnival Corporation, hasorderedtop Carnival Corporation executives, including board chairman Micky Arison and CEO Arnold Donald to appear in court today, June 3, at 2 pm. The court appearance will be held at the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. United States Courthousein Miami, Florida....

NASSAU, BAHAMAS - Unofficial results tallied from yesterday’s strike poll taken by members of the Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union (BHCAWU) will give hoteliers the green light to take industrial action on hotel properties across New Providence, according to Darrin Woods, BHCAWU President. Two hours after polls closed on Thursday evening, Woods confirmed to Eyewitness News Online that...

"Poor people pay taxes, its normally the high-end people who can afford to pay that don’t pay" NASSAU, BAHAMAS - The government will pursue and prosecute persons who do not pay their taxes, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance K. Peter Turnquest on Thursday. At a press conference intended to break down the 2019/2020 budget, Turnquest said a...

Financial Secretary says figure does not reflect significant increases to govt. travel NASSAU, BAHAMAS - While originally allocating $8.95 million for “travel and subsistence” in the upcoming fiscal year, the Minnis administration has allocated an estimated $18.93 million, according to the budget for 2019/2020. In the current budget introduced last June, the government increased the allocation for travel, budgeting $8.88...